Overhead exercise device for the upper body

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine for strengthening the upper torso of a user. An overhead support structure supports a wheel assembly that attaches to a rotatable handlebar assembly and a mass. The handlebar assembly is supported by the overhead support structure in a manner that allows it to rotate substantially without friction. The handlebar structure is further situated so that a user can grasp the handlebar assembly with one or both hands and twist his upper torso around his centerline. When the user twists his upper torso, it causes the wheel assembly to cooperatively rotate the mass. In the preferred embodiment, the wheel assembly has two gear wheels with interlocking teeth. One of the wheels rotates with the handle bar assembly and the other wheel rotates with the mass. In an alternative embodiment a continuous belt interconnects the two wheels. The mass can be a conventional removable and interchangeable exercise weight. As the exercise weight increases in weight, more strength is required by the user to initiate, stop or reverse a twisting motion. In use, the angular momentum carries the user further around than the user could potentially do on his own, which stretches the user&#39;s muscles, and the rotational inertia causes the user to use extra force to start and stop, which strengthens his muscles.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the field of exercise machines. Thisinvention relates particularly to an exercise machine that strengthensand stretches a user's abdominal and upper torso muscles by resistingrotational inertia.

BACKGROUND

Athletes and non-athletes have increasingly turned to exercise machinesto assist them with their conditioning. Professional and recreationalathletes routinely use exercise machines to increase their strength,muscular endurance and flexibility and to facilitate recovery frominjury. Exercise machines also are an important component in healthclubs and rehabilitation centers, where non-athletes are trying toachieve an overall healthy body or recover from injuries.

In general, exercise machines rely on resistance to work particularmuscles. Isokinetic exercise machines, for example, provide variableresistance at a constant speed throughout an exercise movement. Thisensures that the user applies the maximum force of which the muscle iscapable throughout the entire range of motion. Another type ofresistance machine is a negative resistance exercise machines thatrequires a user to move weights in one direction and to resist theweight when moving in the other direction. A third type of machine, avariable resistance exercise machine, provides a change of resistance ina predetermined manner as a user contracts a muscle.

Exercise machines can target many muscle groups or just a few musclesdepending on how they are designed. One area in particular that is oftentargeted by exercise machines is the abdominal muscles and upper torso.Exercising the abdominal region can improve a user's shape and tone andincrease the strength of his abdominal muscles, which is of particularimportance to an athlete who needs strong abdominals for his sport. Agolfer, football player, baseball player and tennis player, for example,all use his upper torso when throwing or hitting a ball. This type ofathletes can benefit from an exercise machine that aims to improve hisability to rotate around his centerline and to develop strength in hisupper body.

Various machines exist in the prior art that attempt to increase anathlete's strength and flexibility by having the athlete repeatedlyrotate or twist his body. One such example is a rotatable turntable onwhich a user stands, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,180. The userholds on to a stationary “handlebar” located in front of him. The usercan increase the amount of resistance by placing additional weights onthe turntable. Alternatively, the resistance can be increased throughuse of additional wheels and belts. The user then rotates the turntablebelow him or her by twisting his lower body. The resistance remainsconstant throughout the user's range of motion, however, and the user isnot twisting his upper torso.

Another example of a twisting exercise device is an overhead rotatableturntable that comprises two plates stacked along an axis directly overthe user's head, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,600. A tensionspring is mounted below the lower plate and can be tightened to increasethe friction between the plates, thereby increasing resistance. A handleis located near the periphery of the lower plate, and the user can holdthe handle with one or two hands and twist his body to turn the plate.Because the handle is located above the user at the periphery of theplate, the user does not rotate around his centerline. Additionally, auser cannot build up momentum when using this turntable arrangement dueto the friction between the plates.

While these currently available exercise machines target the abdominalsand are adequate for developing stronger muscles, they do not simulatehow the muscles act in common sporting applications. A golfer, forexample, rotates his upper body around his centerline and acceleratesand decelerates a golf club. The golf club must be accelerated from aresting position, swung up to a top backswing position and thendecelerated to an instant of zero motion at the top of the swing beforealmost immediately reversing direction and swinging it down to strikethe golf ball. The faster the golfer's backswing, the more force isrequired to resist rotational inertia and stop the golf club's angularmomentum at the top of the backswing.

In general, inertia is the tendency of a mass, such as a golf club or abat, to resist acceleration when it is resting and to resistdeceleration once it is in motion. This property becomes especiallypronounced as the mass and its speed increase. Accordingly, it would beparticularly desirable to provide an exercise machine that targets notonly muscle strengthening and flexibility, but also allows an athlete topractice starting and stopping his movements when encountering inertia.It is an object of this invention to provide a exercise device for theupper torso in which angular momentum carries the user further aroundthan the user could potentially do on his own, which stretches theuser's muscles, and the rotational inertia causes the user to use extraforce to start and stop, which strengthen his muscles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an exercise machine for strengthening the upper torsoof a user. An overhead support structure supports a wheel assembly thatattaches to a rotatable handlebar assembly and a mass. The handlebarassembly is supported by the overhead support structure in a manner thatallows it to rotate substantially without friction. The handlebarstructure is further situated so that a user can grasp the handlebarassembly with one or both hands and twist his upper torso around hiscenterline. When the user twists his upper torso, it causes the wheelassembly to cooperatively rotate the mass. In the preferred embodiment,the wheel assembly has two gear wheels with interlocking teeth. One ofthe wheels rotates with the handle bar assembly and the other wheelrotates with the mass. In an alternative embodiment a continuous beltinterconnects the two wheels. The mass can be a conventional removableand interchangeable exercise weight. As the exercise weight increases inweight, more strength is required by the user to initiate, stop orreverse a twisting motion. In use, the angular momentum carries the userfurther around than the user could potentially do on his own, whichstretches the user's muscles, and the rotational inertia causes the userto use extra force to start and stop, which strengthens his muscles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the wheel assembly of thisinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the wheel assembly ofthis invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the handlebarassembly of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a user operating the exercise device ofthis invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the forces acting on the wheel assembly ofthis invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an exercise device aimed at the abdominal and uppertorso muscles of a user. In particular, this device stretches andstrengthens abdominal and upper torso muscles and targets a user'sability to initiate, resist and reverse a twisting motion of his upperbody.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thisinvention. Exercise machine 10 has an upright support 21, an overheadsupport 22, and in the preferred embodiment, a base 20. The supports andbase are referred to generally as the frame. The frame can be made outof any strong rigid material as is known in the art, such as steel.Moreover, the frame can have any number of support members, bars, beamsand the like to make it a stable structure capable of supportingsubstantial weights. Equivalent structural modifications are known to aperson skilled in the art of designing rigid structures or exercisemachines. In the preferred embodiment, the base 20 rests on the ground.Alternatively, the overhead support 22 can be attached to a wall or theceiling.

The overhead support 22 supports a wheel assembly. In the preferredembodiment, a wheel assembly is disposed above the upright support andparallel to the ground wherein the wheel assembly has at least twocooperating wheels: first wheel 31 and second wheel 32. Two cooperatingwheels are preferred, but any number of wheels can be used as long aswhen one of the wheels turns, the others do as well. The cooperatingwheels preferably are attached to the overhead support structure withsuch that the wheels to rotate with little or no friction. For example,the wheels can rest on a race with ball bearings or, more simply, on awasher, although any known method of securing wheels 31 and 32 tooverhead support 22 can be used as long as wheels 31 and 32 can rotatewith as little friction as possible. Additionally, cooperating wheels 31and 32 can be suspended below the overhead support structure withoutcompromising the effectiveness of the machine as long as they are stillsubstantially parallel to the ground and secured so that they can rotatewith as little friction as possible.

In the preferred embodiment, first wheel 31 has a larger diameter thansecond wheel 32. Preferably the first wheel 31 is about 16 inches indiameter and the second wheel is about 2 inches in diameter. First wheel31 and second wheel 32 as shown in FIG. 1 are preferably gears withinterlocking teeth. The interlocking teeth cause second wheel 32 torotate when first wheel 31 is rotated. FIG. 2 shows a side view of thefirst wheel 31 with teeth and the second wheel 32 with teeth. Wheels 31and 32 can be any type of gear with interlocking teeth as is generallyknown in the art.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the wheelassembly. In the alternative embodiment, first wheel 31 and second wheel32 are connected by a continuous belt 35 that surrounds them. Again,more wheels can be used as long as all of the wheels rotate when one ofthe wheels rotates. In this embodiment, wheels 31 and 32 and continuousbelt 35 can be any type of pulley wheel and belt device as is known inthe art. Other mechanisms known in the art for causing the wheels tocooperatively rotate can be used as well. In yet another embodiment, thewheel assembly can be simply one wheel with a mass placed directly uponthe wheel. For example, first wheel 31 can have a mass placed directlyon it. The mass can be placed in the center of first wheel 31, or at aspecified distance from the center to change how much force is requiredto rotate first wheel 31.

A handlebar assembly is attached to the wheel assembly. The handlebarassembly can attached to or integral with the wheel assembly. In thepreferred embodiment, the handlebar assembly is integral with andextends downwardly from first wheel 31, as shown in FIG. 1. Thehandlebar assembly can have any design as long as the user can grasp thehandlebar with one or both hands and rotate his upper body. Thepreferred handlebar assembly has a first bar 41 that is attached tofirst wheel 31 and descends downwardly from first wheel 31. First bar 41extends through overhead support 22 in a manner that minimizes frictionwhen first bar 41 is rotated about its vertical axis. Accordingly, firstbar is preferably a long cylindrical shape, although other bar shapescan be used. First bar 41 then attaches to a second bar 42 that extendsradially outward from first bar 41. A third bar 43 is attached to secondbar 42 and extends downwardly from second bar 42. Second bar 42 andthird bar 43 can be any shape. Finally, a crossbar 44 is attached tothird bar 43. Crossbar 44 is substantially perpendicular to third bar 43and substantially parallel to the ground as shown in FIG. 1 and ispreferably a long cylindrical shape to allow a user to easily grasp thebar at any distance from its centerpoint. Other shapes for crossbar 41can be used, however, without compromising its function. Crossbar 44 canalso have one or more handles 46 descending downwardly or radiallyoutward from crossbar 44 as well, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Handles 46can be any type of handle as is known in the art. Bars 41, 42, 43 and44, as well as handles 46 and first wheel 31, can be attached to oneanother by any known method of securing one thing to another, forexample with screws and nuts, clamps, threads, or welding. According tothis preferred embodiment, crossbar 44 is perpendicular to and offsetfrom first bar 41, which allows a user to stand directly below thecenter axis of first wheel 31 and to grasp crossbar 44 either in frontof or behind the user's head or shoulders.

An alternate handlebar assembly is shown in FIG. 4. According to FIG. 4,the handlebar assembly also has first bar 41 attached to first wheel 31and descending downwardly from first wheel 31. First bar 41 extendsthrough overhead support 22 in a manner that minimizes friction whenfirst bar 41 is rotated about its vertical axis. Accordingly, first baris preferably a long cylindrical shape, although other bar shapes can beused. In this embodiment, crossbar 44 is attached directly to first bar41. Crossbar 44 is substantially perpendicular to first bar 41 andsubstantially parallel to the ground as shown in FIG. 4. Crossbar 44 isagain preferably a long cylindrical shape to allow a user to easilygrasp the bar at any distance from its centerpoint. Other shapes forcrossbar 41 can be used, however, without compromising its function.Crossbar 44 can also have one or more handles 46 descending downwardlyor radially outward from crossbar 44 as well. Handles 46 can be any typeof handle as is known in the art. As with the preferred embodiment, bars41 and 44, as well as handles 46 and first wheel 31, can be attached toone another by any known method of securing one thing to another, forexample with screws and nuts, pins, clamps, friction fit, threads, orwelding. According to this alternate embodiment, crossbar 44 is directlybelow and perpendicular to first bar 41, which allows a user to graspcrossbar 44 above his head. FIG. 5 illustrates a user grasping handles46 with crossbar 44 directly over the user's head.

Also in the preferred embodiment, as is shown in FIGS. 2-4, a plate 34is connected to second wheel 32. Plate 34 can be constructed of anystrong material and fixed to wheel 32 by any method of securing onething to another, as discussed above and as is known in the art. Plate34 can be any shape or design as long as it can securely support a mass33 or exercise weight resting on it. In the preferred embodiment, plate34 includes a center pin to anchor the mass and prevent it from slippingoff of plate 34.

FIGS. 2-4 also show how mass 33 impacts second wheel 32. Mass 33 must beevenly distributed on second wheel 32, preferably aligned with thecenter axis of second wheel 32. Using plate 34 helps ensure that mass 33is aligned with the center of second wheel 34. Mass 33 can be any typeof mass, but preferably is a conventional exercise weight commonly usedwith exercise machines or weightlifting equipment, such as barbellweights. The exercise weight can be permanently attached, or preferably,removable and interchangeable. Also, while it is preferred to use plate34 as a support for mass 33, mass 33 alternatively can be directlyattached, permanently or temporarily, to second wheel 32 as is known inthe art.

FIG. 5 illustrates exercise machine 10 in use. A user stands below theoverhead support 22 and directly below the first wheel 31. The useraligns his centerline with the vertical axis through the center of firstwheel 31. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the user is also belowcrossbar 44. In the preferred embodiment, crossbar 44 would be slightlybehind the user's head but the user's centerline would still be directlybelow first wheel 31. The user grasps handles 46 and rotates the handlebar back and forth in clockwise and counterclockwise motions to twisthis upper body and generally rotate about his centerline. The handlebarassembly causes first wheel 31 to rotate, which in turn causes secondwheel 32, which is supporting mass 33, to rotate as well.

Angular momentum causes first wheel 31 and second wheel 32 to eitherremain motionless or, once they have begun rotating, to stay in motion.The rotational inertia of either first wheel 31 or second wheel 32 isthe wheel's resistance to a change in the angular momentum. In order toovercome the rotational inertia for either first wheel 31 or secondwheel 32, a user must supply enough torque. Torque is the amount oftangential force on the wheel at a particular distance from the wheel'scenter, or, in other words, torque equals force multiplied by a radius.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of this invention, rotating firstwheel 31 causes a force to act on the perimeter of second wheel 32. Thefollowing formulas along with FIG. 6 illustrate how much force must beapplied to the perimeter of second wheel 32 to overcome its rotationalinertia and how it relates to the overall mass of second wheel 32. Forpurposes of these calculations, second wheel 32 is considered a solidcylinder having a mass substantially equal to mass 33. The moment ofinertia for a solid cylinder is equal to ½ of the cylinder's mass timesits radius squared. In the following equations, torque is T, rotationalinertia is I, angular acceleration is α, force is F, radius of secondwheel 32 is R, and mass of second wheel 32 is M.

T = I ⋅ α = F ⋅ R $F = \frac{I \cdot \alpha}{R}$$I = \frac{M \cdot R^{2}}{2}$ $F = \frac{M \cdot R \cdot \alpha}{2}$

The force necessary to overcome the moment of inertia of second wheel 32is one half of its mass multiplied by its radius and multiplied by itsangular acceleration. Accordingly, the greater the mass of second wheel32, the more force is necessary to cause second wheel 32 to rotate or tostop it from rotating at a particular acceleration or deceleration. Auser of exercise device 10 applies force to the perimeter of secondwheel 32 by rotating the handlebar assembly, which in turn rotates firstwheel 31. If the user wishes to make the exercise more challenging, heonly needs to increase mass 33.

The benefits of exercise device 10 is that a user must use extra forceto initiate the rotation, but then once the rotation has started, theangular momentum carries the user further around than the user couldpotentially do on his own, which helps stretch the user's muscles. Tostop the rotation or reverse direction, the user must again use extraforce and resist the rotational inertia, which thereby helps increasemuscle strength. By using this exercise device, a professional orrecreational athlete can increase strength and flexibility in a waydirectly related to his sport.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at presentconsidered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention.Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to theparticular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. An exercise device comprising: a) an overhead support; b) a rotatablehandlebar assembly rotatably connected to the overhead support andextending downwardly from the overhead support; c) a wheel assemblysupported by the overhead support and operatively connected to thehandlebar assembly wherein the wheel assembly is parallel to the ground;and d) a mass connected to the wheel assembly.
 2. The exercise deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein: a) the wheel assembly comprises a firstwheel with teeth and a second wheel with teeth; and b) the first andsecond wheel cooperate such that when the first wheel rotates, thesecond wheel rotates.
 3. The exercise device according to claim 1wherein: a) the wheel assembly comprises a first wheel, a second wheeland a continuous belt disposed around the first wheel and second wheel;and b) the belt, the first wheel and the second wheel cooperate suchthat when the first wheel rotates, the second wheel rotates.
 4. Theexercise device according to claim 1 wherein the wheel assemblycomprises one wheel and wherein the mass rests directly on the wheel. 5.The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the mass is a removableexercise weight.
 6. The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein thehandlebar assembly is disposed through the overhead support such that itrotates substantially without friction.
 7. The exercise device accordingto claim 1 wherein the handlebar assembly comprises a first bar extendeddownwardly from the overhead support and a crossbar connected to thefirst bar and disposed substantially perpendicular to the first bar. 8.The exercise device according to claim 1 wherein the handlebar assemblycomprises: a) a first bar extended downwardly from the overhead support;b) a second bar extended radially outward from the first bar andconnected to the first bar; c) a third bar extended downwardly from thesecond bar and connected to the second bar and offset from the firstbar; and d) a crossbar connected to the third bar and disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the third bar.
 9. The exercise deviceaccording to claim 7 wherein the handlebar assembly further comprises atleast one handle attached to the crossbar.
 10. The exercise deviceaccording to claim 8 wherein the handlebar assembly further comprises atleast one handle attached to the crossbar.
 11. An exercise devicecomprising: a) a frame having a base attached to an upright support thatis attached to an overhead support; b) a rotatable handlebar assemblyrotatably connected to the overhead support and extending downwardlyfrom the overhead support; c) a first wheel attached to the handlebarassembly and supported by the overhead support such that the first wheelis parallel to the ground and disposed above a user's head; d) a secondwheel parallel to the ground and supported by the overhead supportwherein the second wheel cooperates with the first wheel such that whenthe first wheel rotates, the second wheel rotates; and e) a massconnected to the second wheel.
 12. The exercise device according toclaim 11 wherein the first wheel is a gear and the second wheel is agear.
 13. The exercise device according to claim 11 further comprising acontinuous belt disposed around the first wheel and second wheel. 14.The exercise device according to claim 11 wherein the mass is aremovable exercise weight.
 15. The exercise device according to claim 11wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are disposed above theoverhead support.
 16. The exercise device according to claim 11 whereinthe first wheel has a larger diameter than the second wheel.
 17. Theexercise device according to claim 11 wherein the handlebar assemblycomprises a first bar extended downwardly from the overhead support anda crossbar connected to the first bar and disposed substantiallyperpendicular to the first bar.
 18. The exercise device according toclaim 11 wherein the handlebar assembly comprises: a) a first barextended downwardly from the overhead support; b) a second bar extendedradially outward from the first bar and connected to the first bar; c) athird bar extended downwardly from and connected to the second bar suchthat the third bar is offset from the first bar; and d) a crossbarconnected to the third bar and disposed substantially perpendicular tothe third bar.
 19. The exercise device according to claim 14 wherein thewheel assembly further comprises a plate connected to and disposed abovethe second wheel for securely supporting the removable exercise weight.20. An exercise device comprising: a) an overhead support; b) arotatable handlebar assembly comprising a first bar rotatably connectedto the overhead support and suspended from the overhead support and acrossbar disposed substantially perpendicular to the first bar whereinthe handlebar assembly rotates substantially without friction; c) afirst wheel with teeth attached to the handlebar assembly and disposedabove at least one of the overhead supports; d) a second wheel withteeth that cooperates with the first wheel with teeth such that rotatingthe first wheel with teeth causes the second wheel with teeth to rotateas well; and e) a removable exercise weight centered above and connectedto the second wheel with teeth wherein the force required to turn thehandlebar assembly increases as the weight of the exercise weightincreases.